Survey reveals surprising textbook purchasing habits

CampusBooks.com, a leading textbook price comparison website, today announced survey results of textbook purchasing habits as well as technology and social media preferences from over 1,000 college students across the country. The survey, conducted by Campbell Rinker, revealed a variety of findings including how nearly three in five students (57 percent) pay for their own textbooks, social media activity (with students spending an average of nearly 19 hours/week on social media sites), and how a surprising 91 percent of students report taking handwritten notes even though 96 percent of college students own a laptop, and more.

While Facebook may be losings its appeal to younger people, CampusBooks.com’s survey revealed that college students spend an average of 7.6 hours on Facebook every week. In addition, college students spend nearly five hours on YouTube and almost three hours per week on Instagram and Twitter.

“This study reveals a great deal about a college student’s preferences and habits, especially in terms of the amount of time college students spend on social media sites, use their phones and how they buy their textbooks,” says Jeff Cohen, CEO of CampusBooks.com. “While every student’s situation is unique, it is important that he or she is aware of the different options available when selecting college textbooks and materials.”

While nearly half of all students (40 percent) reported that they have been assigned an eBook for a course, sentiments were highly polarized with 44 percent of students reporting they are somewhat or very happy using eBooks and 39 percent are somewhat or very unhappy using eBooks.

Other survey highlights include:

Textbooks

· Nearly three in five students (57 percent) report paying for textbooks themselves

· More than three in four students (77 percent) prefer to purchase used textbooks

· 85 percent of students purchase textbooks online

· Half prefer to rent and one in four (25 percent) prefer to purchase new

Note-Taking

· Nine in ten students (91 percent) report taking notes on paper

· 35 percent of students report taking notes on a laptop

· Approximately 11 percent take notes on a tablet and 9 percent in the textbook eBooks

· Nearly half of all students (48 percent) have been assigned an eBook for a course

· 44 percent of students reporting they are somewhat or very happy using eBooks and 39 percent are somewhat or very unhappy using eBooks Technology

· Nearly all college students (96 percent) own a laptop

· 90 percent of college students own a smartphone

· Students report spending 13.5 hours a week using a laptop for recreational purpose and spend the same amount of time, 13.5 hours on average, using their smartphones for recreational purposes. Social Media

· Facebook, Google, YouTube, Twitter and Gmail are the most popular websites among college students with a majority of students maintaining Google+, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Pinterest accounts

· 92 percent of college students have a Facebook account and more than four in five (82 percent) have a YouTube account

· College students spend an average of 7.6 hours on Facebook every week, nearly 5 hours on YouTube and almost 3 hours on Instagram and 3 hours on Twitter per week

From eBooks to buying textbooks online, the study sheds light on a changing technological landscape for students and an inside look at how much time students are spending recreationally on laptops and social media platforms.

ABOUT CAMPUS BOOKS

CampusBooks.com carries over 8 million new and used college textbooks in one convenient location. The online resource searches thousands of sellers and compares prices on new and used books, rentals and e-books for students. For more information, visit www.campusbooks.com.